The Killer Queen (Noella Briony)

Noella had certainly faced her fair share of tough times.

Ulrich's mind was a whirlwind of jumbled images as he imagined how hard life must have been for Noella and their grandma.

Noella, however, was watching Ulrich as he lost himself in his dramatic musings with a calm gaze.

"Ulrich, could you give him a tetanus shot for me, please?"

"I'll go grab it."

Palmer had a few nasty scrapes, and Ulrich had noticed those wounds too. Understanding the risk of infection if left untreated, he wasted no time getting on his feet and out the door.

In the office, it was just Noella and Palmer. She handed him a clean shirt, and a flicker of concern— unnoticed even by herself—crossed her usually stoic face.

"Don't do something like this again. What would Grandpa Sexton do if something happened to you?"

Palmer looked up at Noella with a smile. "Don't worry, Grandpa's been through worse."

That's an experience Sexton could do without!

Noella rolled her eyes, not amused.

But watching her lively reactions, Palmer felt his mood lighten considerably. In his eyes, she seemed even more vibrant.

Everything he did, it all seemed worth it!

"Palmer, don't do this again," Noella said, her head bowed slightly. "At least, you should've brought me along."

"What if I say this was my decision to make? That I did it because I wanted to."

"Then whatever you brought back is yours; I don't want it. If you think you did it for me, then it involves me."

She wasn't one to hide behind others. While being under the Schnabels' wing was nice, Noella wasn't about to let someone else fight her battles for her! She was all about standing side by side.

And if she ever considered being with Palmer, she wouldn't be content just standing behind him!

Palmer was initially taken aback but then laughed heartily, his hand resting on Noella's waist, his head leaning against her stomach, his laughter muffled.

His voice was filled with an indescribable sense of joy and relief. "Okay, I won't keep you in the dark next time. If there's anything planned, I won't make decisions for you."

Noella let him hold her, and she said seriously, "Also, using cologne to cover up your wounds is pretty dumb."

"You don't like the smell?"

Palmer deliberately shifted the focus of the conversation, and Noella, catching his drift, didn't press the issue.

"Not a fan."

"Then tell me what scents you do like, and I'll wear it next time I see you. I want my friend to be happy."

Ulrich returned with the tetanus vaccine, only to walk in on Palmer's smooth talk. He couldn't help but interject, "Mr. Pollack, what kind of game are you playing now?"

Was he out of touch with how relationships worked these days? What kind of romance was this?

Palmer raised an eyebrow. "Dr. Schnabel, I heard Ms. Gruber went to another clinic for her wounds. Is she not interested in your hospital?"

Ulrich's face twitched, but he maintained a dignified tone. "Whatever clinic she chooses is her right. Seeking medical care should be about convenience."

Palmer simply smiled, taking the vaccine from Ulrich and handing it to Noella.

Ulrich was on the verge of exploding!

"Mr. Pollack, my sister doesn't know how to give IV injections. Are you questioning my medical skills?"

Palmer calmly replied, "No, I just don't trust a doctor who's emotionally unstable. Dr. Schnabel, take a look in the mirror, and you'll see how unappealing your expression is right now. My biggest rule is to value my life."

Noella held back a smile, taking the vaccine and expertly administering the injection.

Ulrich was speechless. NôvelDrama.Org content rights.

"Is my expression really that bad?"

Noella nodded. "Yep, it's pretty bad. Ulrich, if you like Malvina, you should go after her."

"How does being responsible for a patient suddenly translate to liking her?"

"Ulrich, anyone with eyes can see it. Last time, Mom even asked me when you and Malvina are getting married."

Ulrich's eyes widened, and the next second, his face went red. Faced with his sister's calm yet all- seeing gaze, Ulrich wished he could just disappear.

"Ulrich, Malvina is great, but you have to make the first move, or she might never do it."

Malvina's delicate sensibilities, shaped by her upbringing, led her to navigate personal and emotional matters in her own unique way. Given Ulrich’s status and the Schnabel family's reputation, it seemed unlikely that Malvina would make the first move.

Ulrich covered his face, deciding to just squat on the ground and rub his now-heating cheeks.

"Noella, if you were in Malvina's shoes and liked Palmer, would you make the first move?"

Noella was momentarily speechless. How did this question land on her lap? She caught Palmer's amused look and couldn't help but smile too.

"I wouldn't, because he'd pretend he's just a taxi driver."

Palmer felt embarrassed as Noella brought up the past. That had all been a misunderstanding; Palmer had mistakenly believed that Noella was working as a hitwoman due to financial troubles. To avoid scaring her away with his own background, he had concocted that flawed excuse.

Ulrich chimed in, "But you knew, right?"

Noella, being sharp and having access to information through the Obelisk Organization, could see that Palmer's financial situation was far from one that required him to drive a taxi. She speculated that perhaps he had some deep, unspoken troubles he didn't want to delve into, or maybe... she just wasn't that into Palmer's drama at the time.

"It doesn't matter. What matters is, Ulrich, are you really not planning to pursue Malvina? I have a friend who's quite interested in her."

Ulrich shot up so fast, he almost gave himself a concussion.

"Which friend? What did Malvina say?"

One could practically see the nerves and discomfort oozing off Ulrich. The Schnabel kids weren't exactly the Don Juans of the dating scene.

Ulrich couldn't even pin down if he liked Malvina or not! But every time he saw her, he couldn't help but want to look out for her!

And when he couldn't see her, he'd find himself wandering near the underground fight club, hoping to bump into her. And if he did, she'd tease him about having too much free time. Heaven knows he was swamped, with back-to-back meetings and endless research. But without seeing her, Ulrich felt a gaping emptiness inside!

"I just think, with all the drama going on at her place, stepping in now would probably be annoying, right?"

Ulrich looked downright dejected.

"And besides, she... doesn't like me back."

To Ulrich, Malvina was just out of his league. She was smart, beautiful, and handled everything with ease, radiating a resilience and vitality as if she was literally glowing. That vibrant charm was something Ulrich lacked!

He admired Malvina's fierce independence and respected her quiet perseverance, empathizing with her tragic past.

Was this what liking someone was all about?

Noella wasn't exactly seasoned in the love department either.

Honestly, when it came to the Schnabel siblings' love lives, it was a blank slate!

"So, Ulrich, are you basically saying you have a crush on Malvina?"